Ayuso has another harsh response after UAE exit: "The problem wasn’t really with my teammates, but with the management"

It had already become clear on several occasions that Ayuso could do with a way out of UAE. Almeida's tirade on the Col du Galibier in last year's Tour is still fresh in many people's minds. At the same time, his remarkable performances in this year's Vuelta also sparked considerable discussion about his role at UAE.

“It was mainly the small incidents, and when we knew something wasn't right,” Ayuso himself says in conversation with Daniel Benson. “At every race, when I came home, I felt that there was no chemistry or relationship. It was little things after every race, but even in the 2023 Vuelta, I thought that if I got the chance to leave, I would look into it.”

Yet that never happened. “Every time I even mentioned it to the management, the answer was always "no". I felt that leaving was a very distant possibility, so I tried to make the best of it. On the other hand, when all those things pile up, there comes a point when you think: f*ck, I'm here to ride my bike and enjoy it.”

As a result, the Spaniard lost that feeling for cycling. "And at UAE, I often competed against my teammates. That's not a nice feeling. It just keeps building up when you have to keep looking at what's happening in your own team bus instead of outside it, with teammates who want to beat you. It was more of a gradual thing than something that happened one day."

His relationship with Almeida was regularly under scrutiny, although Ayuso has no issues with the Portuguese rider. ‘It wasn't really Almeida, and I would never challenge a teammate. For me, it was more about what was happening, because things happen in every team, and that's sport, but from the management side, it was never clear what the message was or what the role of the riders was.’

“When mistakes were made, they were never addressed,” the Spaniard continues in a rather critical tone. “That just cost me energy; more than the act itself, it was more about how the team management dealt with the situation. To be honest, it wasn't a major issue with the teammates. The problem was with the management.”

Ayuso explains that statement in detail. "In January, I had an offer to sign for another two years, until the end of 2030. During those negotiations with management, my biggest concern wasn't so much about money, but more about the famous buyout clause of 100 million. I told them I could extend, but only if there was a proportional buyout clause in case I wanted to leave later."

That was a turning point. “From that moment on, management became very aggressive, to the point where I was told that if I didn't sign the extension, we would see what calendar I was going to follow. That was one of the biggest turning points, besides the sporting side, which was going downhill, and that was when I said, ‘Okay, that's enough.’”

It sparked a significant media backlash against the Spaniard. “I'm not saying it's unfair to the people who think that way, because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but my image is being portrayed in a way that is certainly different from who I really am,” Ayuso is adamant about that.

“What bothers me the most is that the team, instead of trying to help, at least in recent months, tried to generate more bloodshed and make it look good on their part,” the Spaniard continues critically. “I was seen as the villain in the movie, so I can't criticize anyone for their opinion, because if that's the version they have of me, I have no problem with it.” ‘

But of course, there's another side to it. "It's a bit unfair, but we all know how communication works. Still, I'm sure that starting next year, people in a new team will really be able to see who I am and how they see me," the Spaniard looks forward to his transfer.

He's not worried about whether Ayuso will turn out to be a good teammate. "Because when I arrive at the team's training camp in October and they see who I really am, I think that will help. During the Vuelta, Mads Pedersen came up to me, and he was super welcoming, even though it wasn't 100% official. I also spoke briefly with Giulio Ciccone during the Vuelta, which was good. I'm also super willing to work for others. I want to show that I'm the first to help my teammates achieve their goals."